Nativity Church Terrorist Homeless In Ireland

One of 13 Palestinian terrorists wanted for the murder of Israeli soldiers is portrayed in a sympathetic article in The Irish Independent as "homeless for five months" and "regularly sleep[ing] in a park."

First Publish: 4/24/2003, 8:03 PM

One of 13 Palestinian terrorists wanted for the murder of Israeli soldiers is portrayed in a sympathetic article in The Irish Independent as "homeless for five months" and "regularly sleep[ing] in a park." The man, Jihad Jara, is one of 13 terrorists whom Israel allowed to find refuge in European countries in a deal to end the long-running siege at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity 11 months ago. Another terrorist who came to Ireland with him, Rami Kamel, married an Irish woman, while Jara has not quite 'found his place.' The Independent reports that three other terrorists who were exiled to Italy under the same deal were given new identities, but does not mention the fate of the terrorists sent to the other countries. Irish authorities are trying to find another country to which to deport Jara.

The newspaper article stated that Jara admitted killing Israeli soldiers, but immediately quoted his "justification:" "I would like freedom for my country and a future for my children." The paper explains that the murderer has four children, two of whom he has never seen, and that he spent "39 days in the historic church in Bethlehem, reputed to be the birth place of [Jesus], without food or medical supplies." It neglects to mention, however, that he holed up in the sanctuary, together with close to 200 other terrorists, of his own volition, that they held several nuns (for a short time) and over 50 priests hostage, and that they refused IDF offers of medical assistance and food.